Set of i ching sticks and method of using the same

ABSTRACT

A set of I Ching sticks and method of using the same to convey information to a user based on various indicia and groupings of indicia disposed on the sides and ends of each of the I Ching sticks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/497,354, filed on Aug. 26, 2019 the entirecontents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a set of I Ching sticks and method ofusing the same, e.g., to consult an oracle according to I Ching.

BACKGROUND

The I Ching is a Chinese system of philosophy and divination containedin a book that is over 3000 years old. The I Ching has and continues tohave a major influence on Chinese cultural development. Initially, twomethods of approaching the I Ching as a divination tool emerged: theyarrow stalks method and the coins method. A variety of differentmethods are currently utilized.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a set of I Ching sticks and method ofusing the same, e.g., to consult an oracle according to I Ching.

A set of I Ching sticks in accordance with the present disclosureincludes six I Ching sticks, each defining an elongated body includingfirst, second, third, and fourth rectangular side faces. Eachrectangular side face includes a first portion, a second portion, and anintermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions. Thefirst and second rectangular side faces oppose one another and the thirdand fourth rectangular side faces oppose one another. A first indicium,configured to convey information, is disposed on each of: the first andsecond portions of the first rectangular side face, one of the first orsecond portions of the third rectangular side face, and one of the firstor second portions of the fourth rectangular side face. A secondindicium, configured to convey information and different from the firstindicium, is disposed on each of: the first and second portions of thesecond rectangular side face, the other of the first or second portionsof the third rectangular side face, and the other of the first or secondportions of the fourth rectangular side face. The elongated body of eachI Ching stick further includes first and second end faces. A thirdindicium is disposed on the each of the first and second end faces. Thethird indicium is different from each of the first and second indiciaand includes four distinguishable orientations, each configured toconvey information.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first indicium is a yin lineand the second indicium is a yang line.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the third indicium is ayin-yang symbol.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediateportions of the third and fourth rectangular side faces each include afourth indicium. The fourth indicium may be a change symbol.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediateportions of the first and second rectangular side faces each include afifth indicium. The fifth indicium may be a logo.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each stick iswood dowel and each of the indicia is burned into the wood dowel.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the I Ching sticks areseparate from one another to enable individual manipulation of each IChing stick relative to any other I Ching stick.

A method of using a set of I Ching sticks in accordance with the presentdisclosure includes positioning six I Ching sticks in an initialorientation wherein a first rectangular side face of each I Ching stickis displayed; manipulating one or more of the six I Ching sticks; andrepositioning the six I Ching sticks in a final, side-by-sideorientation wherein the first rectangular side face, a secondrectangular side face, a third rectangular side face, or a fourthrectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed, depending uponthe manipulating. The method further includes determining informationfrom indicia disposed on first portions of the displayed faces of eachof the six I Ching sticks; determining other information from indiciadisposed on second portions of the displayed faces of each of the six IChing sticks; and determining still other information from anorientation of end indicia disposed on end faces of at least one of thesix I Ching sticks.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the end indicium disposed oneach end face includes four distinguishable orientations that conveydifferent information.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the indicia on the firstand second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of thesix I Ching sticks are the same as one another and the indicia on thefirst and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each ofthe six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and different fromthe indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangularside face of each of the six I Ching sticks.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the third and fourthrectangular side faces of each of the six I Ching sticks each includeone indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and secondportions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Chingsticks and one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first andsecond portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six IChing sticks.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the method furtherincludes further repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a spaced-apart,further orientation such that an additional one of the first rectangularside face, the second rectangular side face, the third rectangular sideface, or the fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick isadditionally displayed, and determining information based upon theindicia provided on the additionally displayed rectangular side faces.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, four differentareas of information are provided: a first area including the indicia onthe first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portionson the additionally displayed faces of a first group of three of the sixI Ching sticks; a second area including the indicia on the secondportions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on theadditionally displayed faces of the first group of three of the six IChing sticks; a third area including the indicia on the first portionsof the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionallydisplayed faces of a second group of three of the six I Ching sticks;and a fourth area including the indicia on the second portions of thedisplayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionallydisplayed faces of the second group of three of the six I Ching sticks.The first and second areas may constitute an inner world and the thirdand fourth areas may constitute an outer world.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosurewill be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure willbecome more apparent in view of the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals identify similar or identical elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of I Ching sticks in accordancewith the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2D are plan views illustrating the various side faces of each IChing stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views illustrating the end faces of each IChing stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a method of using the set of I Ching sticks ofFIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in alaid out, final orientation;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in aspaced-apart, further orientation

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 inthe spaced-apart, further orientation, highlighting the various worlds,forces, and hexagrams provided; and

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate the various orientations of the end faces of eachI Ching stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to FIG. 1, a set of I Ching sticks 10 provided inaccordance with the present disclosure includes six (6) I Ching sticks110,120,130,140,150, 160. Each I Ching stick 110-160 is separate fromeach of the other I Ching sticks 110-160 and is unconstrained relativeto each of the other I Ching sticks 110-160 to enable independentmanipulation of each I Ching stick 110-160 relative to any other I Chingstick 110-160. Each I Ching stick 110-160 is made from wood dowel anddefines an elongated rectangular configuration. The I Ching sticks110-160 are identical to one another and may be handcrafted. The variousindicia disposed on each I Ching stick 110-160, detailed below, areformed via selectively burning appropriate portions of the various facesto form the desired indicia.

With additional reference to FIGS. 2A-3D, each I Ching stick 110-160defines four (4) rectangular side faces 210, 220, 230, 240 and two (2)square end faces 250, 260. Each rectangular side face 210-240 includestwo indicia, a first disposed towards a first end of the I Ching stick110-160 and a second disposed towards a second, opposite end of the IChing stick 110-160. An intermediate area is defined between the firstand second indicia on each rectangular side face 210-240. The first andsecond square end faces 250, 260 of each I Ching stick 110-160, disposedat the first and second ends, respectively, thereof, each include an endindicium 252, 262.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the first and second indicia 212, 214 of the firstside face 210 of each I Ching stick 110-160 are each yang lines, e.g.,formed as single, relatively long rectangles 212, 214. With reference toFIG. 2B, the first and second indicia 222, 224 of the second side face220 of each I Ching stick 110-160 are each yin lines, e.g., formed aspairs of spaced-apart, relatively short rectangles 222, 224. Inembodiments, the intermediate area 216 defined between the first andsecond indicia 212, 214 of the first side face 210 of each I Ching stick110-160 may be blank or may include any suitable marking such as, forexample, a logo. Likewise, the intermediate area 226 defined between thefirst and second indicia 222, 224 of the second side face 220 of each IChing stick 110-160 may be blank or may include any suitable markingsuch as, for example, a logo.

Turning to FIG. 2C, the first indicium 232 of the third side face 230 ofeach I Ching stick 110-160 is a yin line and the second indicium 234 ofthe third side face 230 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yang line. Asshown in FIG. 2D, the first indicium 242 of the fourth side face 240 ofeach I Ching stick 110-160 is a yang line and the second indicium 244 ofthe fourth side face 240 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yin line(although this may be reversed to match the third side face 230). Inembodiments, the intermediate areas 236, 246 defined between the firstand second indicia 232, 234 and 242, 244, respectively, of therespective third and fourth first side faces 230, 240 of each I Chingstick 110-160 may include a change indicium 238, 248, e.g., solid blackcircles 238, 248, respectively, as the third and fourth first side faces230, 240 represent changes (with each including one yin line and oneyang line).

The first and second side faces 210, 220 oppose one another, e.g., thefirst and second side faces 210, 220 are disposed on opposite sides ofthe I Ching sticks 110-160. Likewise, the third and fourth side faces230, 240 oppose one another, e.g., the third and fourth side faces 230,240 are disposed on opposite sides of the I Ching sticks 110-160. Inthis manner, rolling an I Ching stick 110-160 may sequentially presentthe first side face 210, followed by the third side face 230, followedby the second side face 220, followed by the fourth side face 240,followed by a return to the first side face 210. However, the above maybe modified by reversing the first and second side faces 210, 220,and/or the third and fourth side faces 230, 240.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the end indicia 252, 262 on the firstand second square end faces 250, 260, respectively, of each I Chingstick 110-160, are yin-yang symbols 252, 262. The black circle in eachyin-yang symbol 252, 262 shows a movement towards yin, while the whitecircle in each yin-yang symbol 252, 262 shows a movement towards yang.The end indicia 252, 262 on the end faces 250, 260 of each I Ching stick110-160 may be oriented in the same direction such that, for example,whether viewing the first end face 250 or the second end face 260, thesame orientation of the indicia 252, 262, respectively, is provided.

Turning to FIGS. 4A-4D, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, in use, withinitial reference to FIG. 4A, the set of I Ching sticks 10 are held inthe user's hand in an initial orientation wherein the first side face210 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is facing upwardly, displaying theyang lines 212, 214. Thus, the second side face 220 of each I Chingstick 110-160, including the yin lines 222, 224, are facing downwardtowards the user's hand. The I Ching sticks 110-160 are positionedside-by-side in this initial orientation illustrated in FIG. 4A.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, when ready, theuser rotates, shuffles, mixes, and/or otherwise manipulates the set of IChing sticks 10 with one or both hands to reorder and/or reorient theset of I Ching sticks 10. With additional reference to FIGS. 4C-4D, whenready and once manipulation of the set of I Ching sticks 10 is complete,the I Ching sticks 110-160 are laid out in a side-by-side, touching orclosely approximated, final orientation. As a result of the manipulationof the I Ching sticks 110-160, a different order of the I Ching sticks110-160 and/or orientation of one or more of the I Ching sticks 110-160are presented.

Turning to FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, in the laid out IChing sticks 110-160 in the side-by-side, touching or closelyapproximated, final orientation, only the upwardly-facing side faces ofthe I Ching sticks 110-160 are readily visible. These six (6) sidefaces, one from each of the I Ching sticks 110-160, display a six (6)line hexagram, numbered 1-6 in FIG. 5, each line 1-6 including a leftside indicium (e.g., one of the first indicia 212, 222, 232, 242depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that isdisplayed for each I Ching stick 110-160) and a right side indicium(e.g., one of the second indicia 214, 224, 234, 244 depending upon theside face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that is displayed for each IChing stick 110-160). The left side indicium displayed for each I Chingstick 110-160 together define the primary force while the right sideindicium displayed for each I Ching stick 110-160 together define therelating force.

Referring to FIG. 6, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, by moving the setof I Ching sticks 10 to transition the I Ching sticks 110-160 from theside-by-side, touching or closely approximated, final orientation ofFIG. 5 to a spaced-apart further orientation as illustrated in FIG. 6, asix (6) line hidden hexagram is revealed, numbered 1-6 in FIG. 5. Eachline 1-6 includes a left side indicium (e.g., one of the first indicia212, 222, 232, 242 depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240,respectively, that is revealed for each I Ching stick 110-160) and aright side indicium (e.g., one of the second indicia 214, 224, 234, 244depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that isrevealed for each I Ching stick 110-160).

Turning to FIG. 7, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, with the set of IChing sticks 10 disposed in the spaced-apart further orientation, theset of I Ching sticks 10 define an inner world, formed from the bottomthree I Ching sticks 110-160, and an outer world, formed from the topthree I Ching sticks 110-160. Within each world, a pair of six (6) linehexagrams are provided for a total of four six (6) line hexagrams: aninner world primary hexagram formed by the left indicia on the twoexposed faces of each of the three inner world I Ching sticks 110-160;an inner world relating hexagram formed by the right indicia on the twoexposed faces of each of the three inner world I Ching sticks 110-160;an outer world primary hexagram formed by the left indicia on the twoexposed faces of each of the three outer world I Ching sticks 110-160;and an outer world relating hexagram formed by the right indicia on thetwo exposed faces of each of the three outer world I Ching sticks110-160.

An I Ching source (not shown) may be used to determine the meaning ofthe various hexagrams and/or single lines within one or more of thehexagrams provided by the set of I Ching sticks 10. Further, withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D, in addition to the various hexagrams and linesthereof detailed above, the end indicia 252, 262 on the end faces 250,260 of each of the I Ching sticks 110-160 may also be utilized to conveyinformation. That is, the end indicia 252, 262 of each of the I Chingsticks 110-160 may be disposed in any one of four differentorientations, illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D. This orientation informationmay be utilized with the lines and/or hexagrams of the corresponding IChing sticks 110-160 or may be utilized independently thereof. Further,the orientation for some or all may be considered, individually orcollectively.

It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may becombined in different combinations than the combinations specificallypresented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should alsobe understood that, depending on the example, certain acts or events ofany of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in adifferent sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g.,all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out thetechniques).

What is claimed is:
 1. A set, comprising: six I Ching sticks, each IChing stick defining an elongated body including: first, second, third,and fourth rectangular side faces each including a first portion, asecond portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the firstand second portions, wherein the first and second rectangular side facesoppose one another and the third and fourth rectangular side facesoppose one another; a first indicium, configured to convey information,disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the firstrectangular side face, one of the first or second portions of the thirdrectangular side face, and one of the first or second portions of thefourth rectangular side face; a second indicium, configured to conveyinformation and different from the first indicium, disposed on each of:the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face, theother of the first or second portions of the third rectangular sideface, and the other of the first or second portions of the fourthrectangular side face; first and second end faces; and a third indicium,disposed on the each of the first and second end faces, wherein thethird indicium is different from each of the first and second indiciaand includes four distinguishable orientations, each orientationconfigured to convey information.
 2. The set according to claim 1,wherein the first indicium is a yin line and wherein the second indiciumis a yang line.
 3. The set according to claim 1, wherein the thirdindicium is a yin-yang symbol.
 4. The set according to claim 1, whereinthe intermediate portions of the third and fourth rectangular side faceseach include a fourth indicium.
 5. The set according to claim 4, whereinthe fourth indicium is a change symbol.
 6. The set according to claim 1,wherein the intermediate portions of the first and second rectangularside faces each include a fifth indicium.
 7. The set according to claim4, wherein the fifth indicium is a logo.
 8. The set according to claim1, wherein each stick is wood dowel.
 9. The set according to claim 8,wherein each of the indicia is burned into the wood dowel.
 10. The setaccording to claim 1, wherein the I Ching sticks are separate from oneanother to enable individual manipulation of each I Ching stick relativeto any other I Ching stick.
 11. A method, comprising: positioning six IChing sticks in an initial orientation wherein a first rectangular sideface of each I Ching stick is displayed; manipulating one or more of thesix I Ching sticks; and repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a final,side-by-side orientation wherein the first rectangular side face, asecond rectangular side face, a third rectangular side face, or a fourthrectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed, depending uponthe manipulating; and determining information from indicia disposed onfirst portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks;determining other information from indicia disposed on second portionsof the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks; anddetermining still other information from an orientation of end indiciadisposed on end faces of at least one of the six I Ching sticks.
 12. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the end indicium disposed on eachend face includes four distinguishable orientations, and wherein eachorientation conveys different information.
 13. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the indicia on the first and second portions of thefirst rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are thesame as one another and wherein the indicia on the first and secondportions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Chingsticks are the same as one another and different from the indicia on thefirst and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each ofthe six I Ching sticks.
 14. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe third and fourth rectangular side faces of each of the six I Chingsticks each include one indicium that is the same as the indicia on thefirst and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each ofthe six I Ching sticks and one indicium that is the same as the indiciaon the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face ofeach of the six I Ching sticks.
 15. The method according to claim 11,further comprising: further repositioning the six I Ching sticks in aspaced-apart, further orientation such that an additional one of thefirst rectangular side face, the second rectangular side face, the thirdrectangular side face, or the fourth rectangular side face of each IChing stick is additionally displayed; and determining information basedupon the indicia provided on the additionally displayed rectangular sidefaces.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein four differentareas of information are provided: a first area including the indicia onthe first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portionson the additionally displayed faces of a first group of three of the sixI Ching sticks; a second area including the indicia on the secondportions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on theadditionally displayed faces of the first group of three of the six IChing sticks; a third area including the indicia on the first portionsof the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionallydisplayed faces of a second group of three of the six I Ching sticks;and a fourth area including the indicia on the second portions of thedisplayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionallydisplayed faces of the second group of three of the six I Ching sticks.17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second areasconstitute an inner world and wherein the third and fourth areasconstitute an outer world.